Feeding device for milling-machines.



APPLIOA'ZIDI FILED D20. 30,1907.

Patented May 10, 1910.

2 BHEBTB-BKBET 1.

www.

NVENTOR WITNESSES:

mlmlmmumwmun TE TATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY I. KELLEMEN, 0F UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNQB TO UTICA DROP FORGE 8c TOOL COMPANY, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, A COBPQBATION.

FEED ING DEVICE FOR MILLING-MACHINES.

fipcciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1910.

Application filed December 30, 1907. Serial No. 408,881.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY F. KELLE- mnn, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Devices for Milling-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same reference being had to the accompaning rawings, and to the characters 0 reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved feedin mechanism for the platen or bed of a milling machine or other machine, which is simple in construction and eilicicnt and performs the duty of rapidly moving the platen or bed from loading position to the cutter or tool, then automatically reducing the feed to a speed suitable during the milling or cutting operation and then after completion of the cut automatically returning the bed or platen rapidly to and stopping at the loading position.

Figure l shows a plan view of the bed or platen with the central section broken out, showing plan and sectional views of the mechanism arranged on the platen base immediately under the platen. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fl". 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on lino 3-4-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. l is an enlarged detail of a portion of the nu-chaniam cmploycd in the device, with some of tho dclails shown in section. Fig. l) is another enlarged vertical sectional detail of certain parts of the construction. Figs. (5 and 7 show details of the construction relating to the mechanism for throwing the said mechanism into and out of gear.

Referring to the reference letters and fi ures in a more particular description, 6 indimtes the platen having, so far as the upper surface is concerned, the usual platform portion traversed by grooves (3 for the reception of fastening devices for securin r Vises, chucks or articles to the platen, an having the surrounding gutter (3 to catch the overflow of lubricant and chips. The platen is mounted in slide-ways 7" of the platen base 7 no as to have a rcciprocatin movement thereon, the pinion being provicod with tho slide-way projections (3 engaging with those of the base. Supported at each end on the platen and mounted for free rotation is the main feed screw 8. This screw is held against longitudinal movement with reference to the platen and may be provided on one or both ends with a hand crank 9, by means of which it can be manually rotated. Provided on the screw 8 is a rotatable nut 9 having a portion constituting a gear pinion 9. This nut is confined against'longitudinal movement with reference to the base 7 by boxes or projections 10, 11 and 11 on the base 7. Also provided on the screw 8 is a gear pinion 12. This pinion is free to slide along the screw 8, but is capable of rotating the screw by reason of b9111 provided with a feather or key 13 engaging in a longitudinal keyseat 0r groove 14 the screw 8.

For the purpose of rotating the screw 8 through the medium of the pinion l2 and the nut 9 through the medium of the gear pinion portion 9*, there is provided a ack shaft 15 mounted in suitable bearings 16 and 17 on the base 7. ()n this shaft 15 aroloosoly mounted the two car )inions l8 and ii) moshing rcspcctivo y with the gum portion 9 of the nut and the gear pinion 12 of the screw. These pinions are held in place laterally by boxes or projections 20, 21 and 22 rovided on the base 7. Substantially dup icatc mechanism is )rovided for coupling those pinions l8 and ll) to the shaft 15 when I'm uirod to he rotalod or holding them iixod wit 1 reference to the base 7 when their rotation is not rcquircd or desired. lucloaing the portion of the shaft 1!) which extends through the box or projection 20 is a clutch sleeve 23. This sleeve 23 is longitudinally movable on the shaft 15, but is coupled thereto for rotation by a key or feather 24. The sleeve 23 is provided with clutch teeth 23" adapted to engage with clutch teeth 24 in the side of the gear pinion 18 when the sleeve is shifted in one direction. WVhen this engagement takes place the gear pinion 18 will be driven by the shaft 15. lVhen the couplin of this clutch is released, means are provide for securing the gear pinion 18 a ainst rotation. These means consist of a ring 26 mounted and secured on the reduced inner and of the alcove 28, but free-to mrmit the rotation of tho alocvc with rclorcncc thereto and provided with clutch tooth 2h adapted to engage with clutch teeth M" in the Opposite side of the pinion 18 from the lOl'i clutch teeth 24. The rotation of the clutch ring 25 is prevented by a bit 26 secured in the box or base projection 21, the edge of which enters a groove or keyseat in the peripheral edge of the ring. This arrangement allows the ring 25 to be shifted laterally in connection with the clutch sleeve 23 to engage and disengage the teeth 25 and 248 and still prevent the rotation of the clutch ring 25, while permitting the rotation of the sleeve 23. For shifting the'clutch mechanism controlling the gear pinion 18, there is provided the usual fork 27 operated by the inner end of a rock shaft 28 mounted in the base 7, see Fig. 7. At the outer end the shaft 28 is provided with a crank or lever 29 by means of which the clutch mechanism can be manually or automatically operated, and this mechanism may be provided with a spring check or click 30 engaging with the lever 29 to maintain the clutch mechanism in either of its normal positions of adjustment For operating the clutch mechanism which controls the gear pinion 19, there is provided the usual clutch fork 31 mounted on the inner end of a rock shaft 32 operated by the base and carryin at its outer end the crank or lever 33. This mechanism is similar in its details to that previously mentimed and more fully illustrated, see Fig. 7.

F or automatically trippin or o erating the clutch 18 and 19 through the medium of the levers 29 and 83, there will be provided on the edge of the platen a number of adjustable trips or stops 34, 3 1 and 34:. These may be adjustably secured along the ed e of the platen in any desired position by bo lts engaging in the longitudinal T-shaped slot provided in the edge of the platen.

For driving the jack shaft 15 there is provided a shaft 36 extending in part transversely through the base 7. The shafts 36 and 15 may be connected by the spiral or worm toothed gears 36 and 37 rovided on the shafts 15 and 36 res ective y. In order to more effectively hold the shaft 15 against lateral movement, particularly incident to the use of the s iral gears 36 and 37, the opposite end of tie shaft from the gear 37 is somewhat reduced and carries the spoolshaped separable sleeves 39 received in the bearin box 16, and by its flanges cnga; 'in with 1316 ends of the box and supporter against lateral movement in the box. The sleeves 39 rotate in the box and the end of the shaft 15 is firmly secured to the sleeves preferably by means of a screw and nut 40. The platen base 7 in practice will referably be mounted on ways 41 on the mac line frame for adjustment laterally or transversely to the line of the movement of the platen on the base 7. For accomplishin this lateral adjustment or positioning of t he base 7 on mechanism controTling tie gears the machine frame, there may be provided a manually operated screw 42 engaging in a nut 43 on the base 7. The shaft 36 may have a telesco ing section to compensate for the lateral adjustment of the base 7, but these are details aside from my present invention and further description may be omitted.

It is evident that when power is applied to the jack shaft 15 to rotate the same and the clutch mechanism is adjusted to couple the gear pinion 19 to the shaft 15, that the screw 8 will be rotated, and if the pitch of the screw 8 is in the right direction the platen will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrows A at a relatively rapid speed, inasmuch as a screw of steep pitch will preferably be employed, and in this case the nut 9 held against rotation. This pre liminary rapid movement ofthe platen may be well utilized to move the platen from what is known as the loading position up to the point where the cutting operation is to begin.

It is also obvious that if the clutch mechanism securing the gear 18 is released and this gear is then coupled to the shaft 15 also, that the nut 9 will then be rotated in the same direction as the screw 8 is being rotated. The gear 18, as compared with the gear 9 of the nut, being relatively smaller than the gear 19, as compared with the screw gear 12, it is obvious that the speed of the rotation of the nut 9 will be less than that of the screw. The rotation of the nut 9, however, counteracts partially, and, as shown, even largely, the action of the screw 8 in feeding forward the platen, and hence the speed. of the platen is greatly reduced when the nut 9 is also driven. The speed of the platen at this time will be regulated by the relative size of the several gears employed. This last described speed or feed of the platen may well be utilized for the feeding of the platen during the cutting or milling operation.

It is further obvious that if while the nut 9 is being driven the rotation of the screw 8 be stopped and the screw locked, as may be readily accomplished by the clutch mechanism controlled by the lever 33, that then the platen will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B. This movement can be advantageously utilized for returning the platen to the starting or loading position and the movement is comparatively rapid, although somewhat slower than the prehminary feeding movement first. described.

After the operator has adjusted the work in and secured it on the platen, he throws in the preliminary fast feed b swin ing the lever 33 over toward the le t, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This operation releases the clutch securing the pinions 19 and 12 against rotation and couples the pinion 19 to the semen shaft 15 which causes the screw 8 to be rotated. 'lhe trip 34 will be arranged at a suitable point on the side of the laten so as to engage with the lever 29 an operate it to throw in the clutch couplin the pinion 18 to the shaft 15 and release the clutch securing this pinion against rotation previousl I'Vhen the pinion 18 is also rotating with the shaft 15, the nut 9 will be rotated in the same direction as the screw 8 at a reduced speed and the platen will be fed forward in the direction indicated by the arrow A at a reduced speed. The trip or stop 34 will be adjusted at a suitable position on the side of the platen to engage and operate the lever 33. This operation will consist in throwing out the clutch which couples the pinion 19 to the shaft 15 and securing this pinion against rotation. "When so held the movement of the platen will be reversed by reason of the continued operation of the nut 9 and itwill be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B quite rapidly, relatively speaking. The stop or trip 34 will be adjusted to a suitable point on the side of the platen so that it will at an opportune time engage the lever 29 and operate the same, and through the medium of the connecting mechanism throw out the clutch, coupling the pinion 18 to the shaft 15, and at the same time secure this pinion againstrotation. This brings the platen to a stop.

It is obvious that modifications and changes in and from the construction herein descrlbed may be made without de arting from the spirit of my invention, or t e subject matter intended to be covered by the claims.

It is also obvious that the essential parts of the mechanism may be with or without material modification utilized in planers, drill presses and other machines where a variable feed and return are desirable.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a feeding mechanism of the character herein described, a base having slideways, a platen mounted on said ways, a rotatable screw connected to the platen for longitudinal movement therewith and arranged parallel with the ways, a pinion for rotatin the screw slidably mounted on the screw an laterally confined on the base, a nut mounted on the screw and laterally confined on the base, actuating mechanism for said pinion and said nut, means for operatively connecting said pinion with said actuating mechanism or for holding it against rotation, and

&

means for operatively connecting said nut with said actuating mechanism or for bolding it against rotation.

2. In a variable and return feed device, the combination of a longitudinally movable feed screw longitudinall grooved in the threaded portion, a rotatab e gear pinion nut mounted on the screw and held against lateral movement, a gear pinion slidably mounted on the threaded portion of the screw and having a bit engaging in the longitudinal groove thereof and held against lateral movement, a driven jack shaft arallel with the screw, independent unequa ear pinions loosely mounted on the jack s aft and meshing with said nut and screw pinion res ectively, means fixed against rotation witi said jack shaft gears, and independent clutch mechanisms for each of said jack shaft gears, each of said mechanisms adapted, when in one position, to connect its corresponding gear to said jack shaft for rotation therewith, and when in another position to connect said gear with said fixed means for holding it against rotation.

3. In a feeding mechanism of the character herein described, a base having slideways, a platen mounted on said ways, a rotatable screw connected to the platen for longitudinal movement therewith and arranged parallel with the ways and longitudinally grooved in the threaded portion thereof, a rotatable ear pinion nut mounted on the screw and old against lateral movement on the base, a ear pinion slidably mounted on the threads portion of the screw and having a bit en aging in the longitudinal groove thereo and held against lateral movement on the base, a driven jack shaft mounted in hearin s on the base parallel with the screw, in ependent unequal ear pinions loosely mounted on the jack shaft and meshin with said nut and screw pinions respectlvelv, independent clutch mechanisms for eac of said jack shaft gears o erable to connect the gear to the jack s aft or to release it from the same, and a set of trips mounted on the platen and adapted to operate said clutch mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have afiixed my signature, in resence of two witnesses, this 24th day 0 December 1907.

HENRY F. KELLEMEN.

Witnesses:

EMMA S. Hnssn, SARAH E. CLARK. 

